S cautious but optimistic for 2017
I thought S was excellent at Media Days. He said his team is younger than usual, but he likes the group a lot. I agree, I like this team a lot from the spring game.
It was an interesting A-Day game with Jalen and Tua making explosive play after explosive play. It was spectacular really. Jerry Jeudy looks like a superstar in the making at wide receiver. Najee Harris will be a super compliment to Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris at running back. S said that Scarbrough and middle linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton are a full go for fall practice. Bo is one of the most explosive backs the Crimson Tide has ever had and that’s a tremendously high bar. Can’t wait to see him play. Shaun Dion is a potentially dominant player along with superstar Rashaan Evans in the middle. There are so many talented young players and some excellent veterans. Minkah Fitzpatrick is a 2017 first team All-American and high first round pick in 2018. The talent is off the charts great.
S addressed the Clemson game briefly. He’s not totally over it, but he’s putting it behind him and looking ahead to Florida State on September 2nd at the new Mercedes-Benz Dome in Atlanta at 7 PM CT on ABC. A highly anticipated matchup, I like the Crimson Tide with their discipline, their physicality, their better players and better coaches. Very bullish on this group.
Brian Daboll, the new offensive coordinator, will do some spectacular things for the offense. The line will be dominant, the skilled players will be outstanding led by Calvin Ridley, Jeudy and the rejuvenated Robert Foster, though he had an accident on a dirt bike and will have to recover from that. You’ll have Bo, Najee and Damien leading the running back corps. Bradley Bozeman leads the line at center, along with potential All-American left tackle Jonah Williams. Bozeman will be a highly decorated player, and a leader up front. Jalen and Tua are super quarterbacks. Jalen will start. He looks ready for a breakout year. The defense will be talented and become lock down, probably as soon as Florida State. Jeremy Pruitt is a spectacular defensive coordinator. Saban and him make quite a team coaching the defense.
Key game at Auburn to close out the season on Saturday, Nov. 25th, which could be huge for SEC and national implications. LSU at home will be somewhat of a challenge though I like the Tide to take care of business as usual against Coach O and the Bengal Tigers at Bryant-Denny, pretty comfortably. A lot of people are building up the Florida State game, but I see the Auburn game as the toughest game of the season for the Crimson Tide. I like Bama to handle FSU and company. They aren’t tough enough to go toe to toe with the Tide. Auburn is a good team, and possibly very good, so that’ll be interesting. Not sure if the Tigers will implode before then, could happen, but if Gus doesn’t mess it up, there is a lot of talent on this team.
I like the Tide to be a playoff team once again and have an excellent chance to win their 5th national title in 11 years under S. S’s record in his first 10 seasons in Tuscaloosa is 114-19, 86%. That is astoundingly exceptional. I like the Tide to get it done once again and win it all, barring major injuries.
Winners in professional golf this week.
U.S. Women’s Open
Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey, 6,732 yards, Par 72
TV: Thursday-Friday, Fox Sports 1, 1-6 PM C; Saturday-Sunday, FOX, 1-7 PM CT.
This tremendous major championship will be played at Shoal Creek here in Birmingham next year, May 31st-June 3rd, 2018.
I like the 19 year old from Canada to get the job in the 72nd Women’s U.S. Open. She’s already won 4 times on tour, won the 2016 Women’s PGA and finished runner up a couple of weeks ago there.
Brooke Henderson
Scottish Open
Dundonald LInks, 7,100 yards, Par 72
TV: Golf Channel, Thursday- Friday, 8:30 AM-12:30 PM. Saturday, Sunday, Golf Channel, 9-11:30 AM.
An important tournament as the 146th Open Championship commences next week and this is a good measuring stick for the Open, which will be played at Royal Birkdale in England, where the Open has been played 8 times with Padraig Harrington winning the last one in 2008.
I’m going with the 35 year old from Stockholm Sweden to capture the Scottish. He just won the BMW PGA Championship May 28th at the Wentworth Club in England and I see him having a great shot at the Open next week.
Alex Noren
John Deere Classic
TPC Deere Run, Sivis, Illinois, 7,268 yards, Par 71
TV: Thursday-Friday, Golf Channel, 3-6 PM CT; Saturday-Sunday, Golf Channel, 12-1::30 PM CT, CBS 2-5 PM CT.
Like the 29 year old from Greenwood, South Carolina to capture the Deere and be a factor at the Open next week.
Ben Martin
9 Responses
DW- All I can is wow as I have Ben Martin in my fantasy pool. I like ZJ to win as he is somewhat of a local and Stricker to be close. Sorry I did not comment the last two weeks as I have been in Alaska and Canada on vacation. It was great to read your blog in the last frontier when I got phone service.
Thanks for updates on the Tide. I will fall in line with your Brooke Henderson pick. When their hot their hot!
Although Ko, Kang and the gang will have a lot to say about the outcome along with Lexi Thompson and Brittany Lincicum. I always order cream on top of a Sunday and that is Brooke Henderson this Sunday. She wins in a playoff.
Thanks fellas! Sounds like you had a fun 2 weeks Bama. Yes, Spike, there is so much talent in this Women’s U.S., that it’s a tough choice and should be an outstanding major. Can’t wait for it.
DW, will you be working the Women’s Open next year at Shoal? That is going to be a big event for Birmingham.
I like Thurston Howell the third this week at the John Deere.
I’ll see Brownie. Possibly. Thanks. You’re bullish on Thurston!
Great analysis of the Tide DW. I like your confidence in them. I like Kisner to be riding the Tractor, Lexi to edge out Henderson and win the Woman’s Open and Rory to turn it around at the Scottish Open.
Thanks Walter! Good stuff as usual.
I like your assessment on the Tide, but as far as Auburn goes I believe it begins and ends with Stidham. He’s yet to complete a full year healthy in the defensive powerhouse Big 12 (sarcasm engaged). Same can be said for Bo which is why (as you said) Damien and Najee are very important to the run game throughout the ’17 campaign! LSU is always up for Bama and O will have his boys playing hard no matter their record, so I’m not sold on comfortably but I think Bama does get the win as I just don’t see O as a viable head coach in the SEC aside from recruiting. I will throw you a free plug here and say, although I see UF coming out of the East again, I think your Dores have a say in who goes to he Atl. as I think they’ll have at least one upset win in the division out of UGA, UF and UT (damn I hope it’s UT). I won’t comment on golf because as media days are upon us, I’m full go on college football. Great write up!
Thanks Rick! Appreciate your comments.